Nyabol Ochol is a young woman living in South Sudan, a country with one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. Women who live in remote areas often are hours from skilled maternity care, and seasonal flooding can further delay access to lifesaving treatment.
Nyabol lives in Ahiaobang, a village in Fashoda County along the Nile River. Her village is about a two-hour walk from Kodok Hospital, the nearest health facility. Earlier this year, after a prolonged and difficult labor, she delivered her baby at home with help from a traditional birth attendant. Tragically, the complicated labor and lack of a trained midwife resulted in a stillbirth. Then, after the delivery, Nyabol’s health rapidly declined.
“It was one of the most painful experiences in my life,” Nyabol recalls. “After losing my baby, I thought I would also lose my life. I became very weak, and struggled every day.”
After three days of excruciating pain, Nyabol was admitted to Kodok Hospital. There, she continued to experience severe abdominal and back pain, as well as difficulty breathing. Despite receiving initial treatment, her condition worsened. She became too weak to walk. The hospital lacked critical care resources, including oxygen concentrators and reliable electricity.
“When we reviewed her condition, it was clear that she required urgent specialist care that could not be provided locally,” says Venansio Wan Akok, Fashoda County Health Director. “Without immediate referral, her chances of survival would have been significantly reduced.”
Venansio contacted International Medical Corps, which provides primary healthcare services in Fashoda through mobile medical teams. Our teams also regularly refer patients to Malakal Teaching Hospital, the region’s largest hospital, which provides surgical and emergency obstetric care, as well as other specialized services unavailable at most local facilities. Joined by Nurse Gama Henry, an International Medical Corps colleague, I rushed to Kodok Hospital, evaluated Nyabol and arranged for her transfer to Malakal Teaching Hospital.
Once the referral was confirmed, Gama and I helped carry Nyabol on a stretcher from Kodok Hospital to a nearby speedboat, then traveled with her to Malakal Teaching Hospital. Throughout the journey, we monitored her condition, provided care and helped ensure her safety. Meanwhile, other International Medical Corps team members coordinated with the hospital to ensure that specialized care would be available when she arrived.
When we arrived at Malakal Teaching Hospital, Nyabol was quickly admitted. Doctors there diagnosed and treated severe postpartum complications, including severe postpartum sepsis with acute respiratory distress. She received oxygen therapy, intravenous antibiotics, continuous monitoring and other supportive care, which enabled her condition to stabilize. She remained in the hospital for one week, until she had fully recovered and could go home.
“Today I am alive because help arrived when I needed it most,” says Nyabol. “I hope other women facing similar challenges can also get the care they need in time.”
“Strong referral systems save lives,” adds Dr. James Ruot Biel, International Medical Corps’ Medical Coordinator in South Sudan. “Nyabol’s case demonstrates how coordinated action between community health services, county authorities and referral hospitals can make the difference between life and death.”
International Medical Corps has worked in South Sudan for more than 30 years, directly providing healthcare services and helping establish referral systems that connect remote primary healthcare facilities with specialized secondary care services. These systems help ensure that patients with life-threatening conditions can receive timely care, despite geographic barriers and limited infrastructure. Learn more about our work in South Sudan.